Snow and weather reports posted on Thursday 14th December 2017

Yuzawa Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 7:50am

Weather conditions:

Cloud cover

New snowfall:

5cm

Snow depth:

235cm

Morning from Yuzawa where it's snowing lightly early on and hovering around 0 degrees.

Snow did arrive yesterday later in the morning, very lightly at first and then heavier at times during the afternoon though it didn't end up with many cm on the ground by the end of the day. It's interesting how sometimes it builds up at an alarmingly fast rate and other times it just doesn't seem to want to!

Anyway this morning outside there's less than 5cm of snow on my car so just a thin layer at the moment. Looking around the resorts, both Maiko Snow Resort and Naeba are reporting 5-10cm on their slopes while Kagura are coming in with 20cm of fresh.

There's a bit of wind blowing around and that is unfortunately affecting the Tashiro part of Kagura which is going to be closed for the day. The Mitsumata Station of Kagura will be open with lifts up to the Kagura Number 1 Romance lift planned to be moving. If anything the wind is forecast to get stronger as the day goes on, so I doubt there will be any improvements to that particular situation.

So yes, snow forecast for the day and tomorrow as well. There might not be a huge amount so far, but I think tomorrow morning there will be quite a lot more to report.

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Hold on a moment... just looking out of the window here and I can actually just now see a bit of blue sky appear from behind the clouds and the sun is even making an appearance.

That will very probably just be a temporary thing as clearing up is definitely not on any of the forecasts.

Nighta 'night skiing' - where some slopes are floodlit for skiing and snowboarding in the evening - is available at the following resorts in the area.

Ishiuchi Maruyama:Every day until 21st March (until 8:50pm)Iwappara:Every day until 22nd March (until 8pm on weekdays and Sundays, 9pm on Saturdays)Joetsu Kokusai:Every day until 22nd March (until 9pm)Kandatsu Kogen:From 23rd January, 'all night' on Fridays and Saturdays (6pm or 10pm until 4am the next morning)Maiko Snow Resort:Every day until 14th March (until 8pm)Naeba:Every day until 29th March (until 9pm)All night on 17th January; 14th February and 14th March (10pm until 6am)NASPA Ski Garden (skiers only):Saturdays until 29th February (until 7pm)Yuzawa Nakazato:Saturdays until 14th March (until 8:30pm)

Chateaux Shiozawa also have nighta but only on certain days - no fixed schedule available.Resorts not mentioned above do not operate 'nighta' (or do not plan to have more this season). Some resorts offer tickets that include nighta, others need a special lift ticket.

Furano Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 8:01am

Weather conditions:

Slighty darker day

New snowfall:

0cm

Snow depth:

180cm

No snow to report overnight, and with the weather pattern we are in right now the snow will be quite firm and fast.Hopefully we will have a sprinkling towards lunch time but it won't really be significant enough to make a dent in the rain gauge.The one to watch is the wind which is expected to pick up over the weekend.Today is the start of the 50th Furano Snow festival which will be held this afternoon/tomorrow morning on the Kitanomine side. Fireworks at 8pm to kick off all night skiing. Read more ...

Madarao Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 8:02am

Weather conditions:

Cloud cover

New snowfall:

15cm

Snow depth:

270cm

The snow has arrived.

Madarao Kogen reporting up to 30cm of fresh in places on the mountain; more like half of that on the cars and outside my place at base. Still, a nice new layer of snow along with cold temperatures so it should be a good morning.

Limited visibility due to the snow continuing to fall.

It's mid season Saturday of course so expect things to be busy today. Nighta tonight.

Snow expected to continue through all of tomorrow perhaps into Monday.

It's a difficult one this morning with a whole bunch of different things going on. Mt Yotei has been looking rather beautiful this morning with a bit of cloud around upper areas but quite a bit of blue sky around those and the sun shining through. There's cloud over our mountain on this side, with early morning fog higher up according to the resorts.

Right now as I write this report the sun is shining down through my window.

No new snowfall to report.

Wind is causing issues this morning as well with Niseko Annupuri not opening this morning and top lifts affected at Niseko Village and Niseko Grand Hirafu. I have as always added any available details as of 8:30am in the area below.

So, is this impressive snowfall on the way like we were thinking and hoping for? Conditions are forecast to deteroirate later on in the day today with snow tomorrow and Monday. I think I'll just leave it at that and report on what actually happens in my report tomorrow morning.

It has been a bit of an odd end to Janaury I feel. But anyway, here's to a good start to February!

Niseko Grand Hirafu:Top King Number 4, King Number 3 and Ace Number 4 lifts on hold due to weather conditions.'Early Morning' lift available daily until 1st February (for 500 yen, Ace Quad Number 2 lift from 8am until 8:20am).

Niseko Village:Niseko Gondola and top Wonderland lift on hold early on due to strong winds.'Early Morning Gondola' available Saturdays and Sundays until February 8th (for 1300 yen, Gondola open from 7:30am until 8:30am).

Strong wind is blowing but no snowfall. The weather is forecasted to deteriorate and peak gates will be closed. The hard-packed groomers are in good shape for practicing euro-carves, probably best option for today.

Apparently, crazy dumps are falling in Spain. Recent weather pattern seems to be strangely different from 10 years ago, closer to spring time weather patterns. Road is icy due to large temperature difference and less snowfall. Be careful driving. Sometimes the Nature does not comply with people’s expectations.

Hakuba Now!

Good morning from Hakuba and I think it's definitely a good one with some decent fresh snow to report from around the mountains.

As you can see noted below, up to around 30cm in places on the slopes with around 10cm or so down here at base village level. :)

Yesterday the snow we got falling on mountain was more of the heavier kind - this morning it looks drier and lighter, and I'm looking forward to getting up there to enjoy it once I share this info with you.

Hopefully the wind that is currently affecting some upper lifts around the valley will ease off and let them get going. As I write this some lifts at Happo-one, 47 and Goryu are on hold. Cortina and Tsugaike both are limited this morning as well due to weather and/or avalanche risk.

One of those days when it is best to check with the resort you plan to go to before heading out as conditions may well change.

The forecast is for snow, moderate winds and poor visibility today and into tomorrow, a decent chance of clearer and calmer conditions tomorrow.

Take care out there.

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Official snow depth numbers and operations at time of writing on Saturday 31st January 2015. Subject to change during the day:

Hakuba Goryu:Reporting 20cm of new snowfall at Alps Daira, 5cm at Toomi and 10cm at Iimori.Start delayed for upper Alps Daira slopes as they do some checking on conditions and safety.All courses planned to be open (except Adventure Course).

- Alps Daira - 300cm- Toomi - 170cm- Iimori - 170cm

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Hakuba 47:Reporting 30cm of new snowfall on upper areas.The Line A and C lifts open for 20 minutes longer every day from today (until 4:20pm).Early on, Line C lift on hold.Tree Riding Zone is open.

- Upper - 300cm- Lower - 180cm

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Happo-one:Reporting 25cm of fresh snow at Usagidaira.Happo Banks The Snow Park opens this morning - be there for 10am for some 'opening festival' action including 'guest riders'. (Why didn't they invite me?!)

- Usagidaira - 320cm- Nakiyama - 170cm- Sakka - 160cm

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Hakuba Cortina:Reporting 30cm of new snowfall.Number 4 and 5 lifts closed this morning with Mt Hieda and Itadaira courses closed due to avalanche danger.

- Upper - 390cm- Lower - 250cm

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Tsugaike Kogen:Situation unclear - seems the top part of the Gondola is closed along with the upper lifts early on.Please note that the top Tsugaike Ropeway only opens for spring season.

Hakuba Goryu:Toomi area every day until 31st March. 6pm until 9:30pm.Hakuba Happo-one:Nakiyama area every day until mid March. 5pm until 9pm.Hakuba Cortina:Every day until 31st March. 5pm until 8pm.Tsugaike Kogen:Kane-no-naru-oka on Saturdays in January; February 7th, 14th. 6pm until 8:50pm. Karamatsu-Shirakaba on Saturdays in January; February 7th, 14th, 28th; Saturdays in March. 6pm until 9pm.Kashimayari:Every day until 15th March. 4:30pm until 9:30pm.Read more ...

Nozawa Onsen Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 9:05am

Weather conditions:

Cloudy

New snowfall:

10cm

Snow depth:

240cm

It has been snowing in Nozawa and apparently still is snowing higher up on the mountain now, but for the moment it's just generally kind of cloudy here at base.

There is some new snow to play in though this morning, with the resort reporting 15-20cm of fresh on the upper Yamabiko and Uenotaira areas this morning, less so down here at base.

You know where to head!

We were of course hoping for some particularly exciting amounts of snow to be falling so that's not quite happening just yet. Snowfall is still on the local forecast for the next few days.

Zao Now!

Hello and good morning from a snowy Zao. Just a few cm of fresh snow to report but more is expected through the day today, tonight and also into tomorrow.

It's not crazy cold this morning.

Foggy conditions on the mountain with poor visibility all round unfortunately. One of those mornings when you can't see much at all of anything.

It's the Festival tonight... over at Uwanodai if you are around. Might see you there. (If the fog clears up enough!)

Heavy snow once the festival has finished please!

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Official snow depths (Saturday 31st January 15):

Utopia: 190cmChuo: 200cmParadise: 200cmUwanodai: 135cm

Zao Onsen is fully open (though note that the Karamatsu pair lift is closed on weekdays).

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Night skiing operations at Zao this season

Uwanodai area:Daily until 22nd March

Yokokura area:Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from until 15th March

Open times from 5pm until 9pm.

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Juhyo 'Ice Monsters' Light Up night time ropeway operations

Every evening now until 28th February

Operating from 5pm until 9pm; last ropeway up at 7:50pm.In the event of poor weather conditions, operations are sometimes cancelled. Read more ...

Naeba Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 9:30am

Weather conditions:

Cloudy with sunny spells, light snow

New snowfall:

10cm

Snow depth:

260cm

Naeba Now!

We are very happy to be able to have the Naeba Now report section back up and running from today.

Naeba (and Kagura) are of course located in Yuzawa Town, but often weather conditions are quite different than what’s happening down in the main town area in Yuzawa and the resorts there. We have tried to give mention to Naeba and Kagura in our main Yuzawa Now report over the last few years, but this report section will allow us to give much more specific first-hand on-the-ground information from Naeba. Which is surely a very good thing indeed.

It’s all new for our reporter and a new system, so you may well see some fine-tuning over the next week or so as we all get into the swing of things. Please bear with us on that point. Also note that as we are starting mid-season, the automated statistics on the bottom of the page will look odd!

Hope you enjoy reading the reports. Without further ado, here we go!

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Good morning everyone, I am glad to inform you that the Naeba Now reports are back up and running as of today.

A quick summary of the weather conditions this winter so far. It has been said that Naeba hasn’t had this amount of snowfall in over 40 years (9 and half meters of snowfall to date! Current snow base is between 1.5meters – 2.5meters. It’s shaping up to be a great season and hopefully will only get better.

The light snow that was falling all of yesterday carried through the night giving us 10cms of fresh snow at the bottom of the slopes and up to 20cms up at the peak.

This morning their has been glimmers of sunshine, but unfortunately its looking like the weather is going to close in with some stronger winds which will of course bring us even more snow. So not all bad!

Visibility is better than yesterday, with cloud coverage staying overhead instead of turning into fog.

The whole of Naeba is accessible with all lifts being open, although this could change weather dependent.

Stronger winds are preventing Tashiro from opening this morning and it's a bit limited at the main Kagura area as well, but if you want to go up there it will have to be via the Mitsumata Ropeway.

Akakura Onsen (Kumado): until 10pm every day until 22 MarchTangram Ski Circus: until 8pm on Saturdays until 28 MarchMadarao Kogen: until 9pm on Saturdays until 21 MarchRead more ...

Minakami Now!

Saturday 31st January 2015, 12:22pm

Weather conditions:

Cloud

New snowfall:

40cm

Snow depth:

340cm

Continues to snow here right throughout Minakami, super light and dry but not bonding well at all. Tenjin has had more than 50cm in the past 24 hours but is closed today due to strong winds and no doubt avalanche risk.

Late yesterday afternoon the upper 15cm was cracking and sliding from the top of shoots and there has been plenty of snow since then. Wager we don't see the mountain open till Monday or Tuesday with snowfall forecast to intensify and continue.